Jose Celiz, right, is the only one in this photo that's not been a champion in Palau but he dealt the only loss of current co-champion Tito Cabunagan, left, in the recently concluded 2011 PNCC. The other champs in the photo are Menandro Manuel, the depending champion (behind Tito), 2009-2010 champ Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr., middle, and Roberto Hernandez, 2nd from right. (Photo by: Roberto Hernandez -- Taken byPaquito Suringa, Jr.)
Profile of Champions ---
TITO CABUNAGAN
DURING THE last day of 2011 Palau National Chess Championship, 4 players are vying for title --Tito Cabunagan, Menandro 'Boy' Manuel, Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr. and Roberto Hernandez.
Two days prior to the last day, Hernandez called Tito in the last hours to play against Elpidio Manaligod and George Anzawa at Lehn's Motel/Store where Elpidio can only play.
After defeating Elpidio and George, Tito is destined to clinch the title even if there is a 4-way tie for the championship because he has defeated Hernandez and drew with Boy and Cyril.
The winner-over-the other tiebreak will give Tito the title. An upset victory of Dennis Gonzales over Manuel ousted the latter of contention. Hernandez' victory over Dennis and default wins over some unrated players assured him of at least a tie for title.
Tito has suggested 27 days before the end of the tournament that players who haven't play at least 5 games will lose all their remaining games by default.
This suggestion was applied by Hernandez that sparks a disagreement with Tito himself. He wants a win over fellow unrated Edwin Acuyan, who played more than 5 games: a loss to Hernandez and Paquito 'Pax' Suringa, Jr. and draws with co-employees Jeffrey Negrillo, Rudel Roxas and Ferdinand Gutierrez. Acuyan also drew with Anzawa and Jeff Balbalosa.
In the 2009-2010 Palau National Chess Championship Tito didn't make it to the Class A when in the last day of classification round, he had to go to Guam with his wife and drew his last round match with Flavin Andres. In the process, he missed the cut to Class A but became the top seed in the Class B division where he demolished the opposition like a storm and finished it undefeated.
But the Class B division is not FIDE rated so Tito remained unrated internationally until the current PNCC.
With some persistent bargaining, Hernandez was able to solicit some sponsors for airfare to the 2010 World Chess Olympiad in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia. Tito was the one to be invited to be in the team together with Cyril, Bernard Garcia and Gene Pastrana.
With some confusion especially with the electronic payment of tickets, Bernard, Cyril and Gene missed a once in a lifetime opportunity to represent a country (even not their own) to the biennial Chess Olympiad.
Tito and Roberto survived the rigid process of entering the Russian territory with their determination but it's not enough to be allowed to play because the minimum number of players is 3 to be allowed to play.
When all possibilities were exploited but failed, Tito and Roberto just enjoyed the experience of being chess tourists in Russia with free full accommodation (hotel rooms, thrice a day sumptuous meal, rides to the Olympiad sites, excursions, internet, socializing with the top chess players of the world including 4 former world chess champions.
It's an unforgettable experience money can't buy. So with the next World Chess Olympiad set in 2012 at Istanbul, Turkey, Tito and Hernandez will not miss this rare chance even though they have to buy their own airfare.
They are the first one to commit to be the members of Palau Chess Team together with Manuel, Mohammad Manik Hossain and George Anzawa.
Cyril and Dennis can't commit earlier than George and if one of them will commit later, Hernandez will swift to Delegate or Women's Team Captain to accommodate him.
Source: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
Volume 20
Issue 41
October 03, 2011
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